Frank Gesner was born in New Haven, Connecticut in 1877, but he spent most of his life in Wethersfield. He worked at the Maxim Silencer Co., retiring in 1945. He was also employed by the Hartford Courant in the rotogravure section, and he contributed poetry. According to Gesner’s obituary, he “had painted the murals in the central hall of the [Hartford] Municipal Building and had done map work for the WPA.” His work card shows that he completed a twenty two square foot mural at Wethersfield High School entitled Historical Map of Wethersfield. Gesner died in 1955.

 Sources: WPA Artist’s Work Card; Hartford Courant: “Artists Are Assigned for WPA Projects,” December 14, 1935; “Frank Gesner Dies; Well-Known Artist,” February 18, 1955.